FBI Warning: More Hate Crimes Targeting Asian Americans Are Likely Coming

“The FBI assesses hate crime incidents against Asian Americans likely will surge across the United States, due to the spread of coronavirus disease … endangering Asian American communities,” according to the report obtained by ABC News. “The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations.”

The document, compiled by the FBI’s Houston office, was distributed to local law enforcement agencies across the country. It notes that there have been a surge of hate crime reports and lists a series of incidences in major U.S. cities with a high concentration of Asian Americans, including Los Angeles, New York, and Texas.

One of these include an incident that happened on March 14 in Midland, Texas, where a Burmese man and his son were stabbed at a Sam’s Club. The suspect was apprehended and indicated that he attacked the family because he thought they were Chinese and infecting people with coronavirus.

On March 19, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) and Chinese for Affirmative Action, launched a website where people can report incidents targeting Asian Americans. As of now, there have been over 650 racist acts in the last week, according to NBC.

NextShark also launched a form this week for us to help follow up, verify, and report on stories, as well as collect data to record the full impact COVID-19-related harassment and violence has had on Asian communities.